Sirup agitator for liquid dispensing devices



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. LLISON' oIRUP AGITATOR FOR LIQUID DVISPENSNG DEVICESFiled April 25, 1945 prrl 10, 1951 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 SIRUP AGITATORFOR LIQUID DISPEN SING DEVICES Samuel H. Ellison, Riverside, Ill.,assignor to Tru- Ade, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication April 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,883'

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices andespecially to a novel cup vending machine for dispensing liquidrefreshments in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to be.readily removable for replacement or assembly. In addition, all partsin contact or associated With the dispensing of the syrup are preferablyof polished stainless steel or the like and refrigerated `at all timesAthe machine is operating. Furthermore, there are no springs, gaskets orpacking employed in any parts associated with the measuring ordispensing of the syrup, so that these parts may be readily sterilizedto assure maximum sanitation.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a mechanismcomprising simplified construction and requiring a minimum number ofoperating parts to thereby greatly reduce the cost and necessity forsubsequent servicing. All mechanical movements employed are simple inconstruction and design and positive in operation.

The invention further comprehends a novel means and mechanism forperiodically agitating the syrup to prevent the settling of anycontained pulp or solids. Although the present invention is preferablyconcerned with the dispensing of natural fruit drinks containing naturalfruit pulp, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto,especially as such agitation carries the cooled syrup from the syrupWell which is refrigerated upwardly through the contents of the bottleWhere it mixes With the Warmer syrup and thus facilitates cooling of theentire contents of the bottle.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum efficiency,economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects,advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and areinherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and Whilethere is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understoodthat the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehendsother details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions Withoutdeparting fromV the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel dispensing device andshowing in dotted outline the relationship of the parts.

Figure 2 is a View in end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view part in vertical cross sectionand part in elevation 7 claims. (C1. 25o- 95) 2 taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3 and showing.' the syrup bottle and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in; vertical cross sectionshowing the manner of. agitating the contents of the syrup bottle.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal cross sectionV taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Referring more particularly to the dravvingsl and to the novelembodiment therein selected to illustrate the invention, the dispensingdevice:

; comprises a cabinet l having a dispensing open-y ing 2 which ispreferably closed by a sliding. transparent panel 3 adapted to be liftedby thev purchaser when the cup 4 is properly filled Withv the dispensedbeverage from the dispensing? spout 5.

In the base of the cabinet is a refrigerating: unit 5 and a Water lter 1shown in dotted outline in Figures 1 and 2 but which form no part ofthe@ present invention and are therefore not shown in. detail. Thecabinet is suitably insulated about. the syrup bottle 8, syrup Well 9and the Water tankV Iii from which Water or other suitable diluent is1pumped to a delivery pipe Il having a gooseneck; i2 adapted to dischargea measured quantity ofi Water into the dispensing spout 5. A suitable:solenoid water valve ll (Fig. 4) controls the flow' whereby a measuredquantity of water is delivered. to the tank l0 and in turn to thedispensing; spout 5. A measured quantity of syrup is alsol dischargedinto this dispensing or delivery spout. from a measuring cup I3, itbeing understood that in the passage of the Water and syrup through the;dispensing spout 5 and the curved portion i4' thereof and the manner inWhich the discharged. liquid is ejected into the cup 4, causes anintimate: mixing of the syrup and water when discharged into the cup 4.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4 a relatively heavy Wall of insulationencompasses the syrup bottle 8, syrup well 9 and the water tank It, thesyrup Well and Water tank being provided With a series of cooling coilsl5 carrying the refrigerating fluid to maintain the Water and syrup atthe desired low temperature. As the mechanism is especially adapted fordispensing a fruit drink containing pulp residue or suspended solids,the invention comprehends agitating this syrup at least intermittentlyor at suitable intervals. This is preferably accomplished by means of anozzle I6 which is telescoped and freely slidable in a sleeve Il formedor provided on the upper surface of a housing I8, the sleeve having areduced neck i9 and the nozzle having a flange 20 limiting its upwardmovement. This telescoping of the 3 nozzle I6 within the sleeve l1 whennot in operation, permits quick and easy removal of an empty bottle andreplacement by a full bottle of syrup.

The nozzle and its encompassing sleeve or collar are preferably disposedat a slight angle with the vertical so that syrup from the Well 9 isdrawn through the opening 2i in the base of the housing i8 by the vanedagitator or impeller 22 and is propelled through the tangentialpassageway 2'3 in the housing and then forced upwardly through theopening 24 in this nozzle to be 4ejected under pressure adjacent theinterior surface of the neck 25 of the syrup bottle. By 'thus locatingthe nozzle and disposing it at an angle, considerable agitation is givento the contents of the syrup bottle. This not only prevents the pulpvfrom settling but also uniformly cools the contents of the bottle.

The impeller 22 is disposed at the lower end of a drive shaft 2S drivenfrom a motor or other prime mover 21. Although I prefer the agitation tobe intermittent and at stated intervals, it is to be understood thatsuch agitation may `be continuous, if desired. As the nozzle Hi isloosely telescoped Within the sleeve l1 and forced upwardly by thepressure and circulation of the agitated syrup when the impeller isoperating, to prevent it from seating upon the base 28 of the housing I8when the impeller stops and the nozzle drops by gravity, an abutment 29such as a screw or the like may be ,provided to intercept the drop ofthe nozzle. This spaces the lower end suiciently above the base topermit the liquid when impelled, to pass under the nozzle and raise itby the pressure of the liquid stream to the position shown in Figure 5.

Syrup from the bottle is fed by gravity into the Well 9 and the syrupfrom this Well flows into the measuring cup i3; This measuring cup isslidable upon the upper end of the dispensing spout 5. To assurecomplete flushing of the spout of the dispensed syrup and to facilitatemixing, the water discharged from the pipe or nozzle I2 is preferablygiven a swirling action. This may be accomplished by means of a spiralinsert 9| disposed lin the endl of the nozzle.

From the above disclosure it will be apparent that the inventioncomprehends a novel and simpliiied agitating means whereby the syrup isso agitated as to prevent settling of any pulp or solid matter and toeffect uniform cooling.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

l. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks including syrupof natural fruit drinks containing pulp or solids, a container for thesyrup disposed in inverted position and means for agitating the syrup inthe container, said means including a nozzle disposed adjacent the openend of the container for projecting a stream` of the syrup into thecontents of the container.

2. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks containingnatural fruit syrup having suspended solid matter, a container for thesyrup disposed in inverted position and having a restricted outlet, andmeans for agitating the contents of the container to prevent settling ofthe contained solids and including a nozzle Vat the restricted outletfor projecting a stream oi the syrup into the container.

3. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinkscontainingsuspended solid matter, a container for the syrup, a Well for receivingsyrup from the container, and means in the Well for circulating thesyrup including a nozzle discharging a stream of syrup from the Wellinto the container to maintain the solid matter therein in suspension.

4. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing drinks containingsuspended solid matter, a container lfor the syrup, a Well into whichthe syrup flows from the container, means for cooling the syrup in theWell, and agitating means in the Well for circulating cooled syruptherein and projecting a' stream of syrup from the Well into 'thecontents of the container to thereby agitate the syrup therein andmaintain the solid matter in' suspension.l

5. In a liquid dispensing device for dispensing a` drink comprising asyrup of natural fruit inciuding pulp or other solid matter and adiluent, a Acontainer for the syrup and a Well receiving a predetermineddepth of syrup .from the container and vin which the syrup is cooled byrefrigeration, means for crculatinr cooled syrup in the' well and meansfor projecting a stream of syrup from the well through the contents inthe container for agitating the contents therein to thereby maintain thesolid matter in suspension and simultaneously cooling the contents.

6. Circulating' mechanism for' liquid dispensing' devices in which syrupfrom a storage container feeds into a Well from which it is dispensed,'coniprising agitating means Within the Well and means associated withthe agitating means for projecting a stream `of syrup from the well intothe storage container in such manner' as tov agitate the syrup in thecontainer and maintain any solid particles therein in suspension.

7. Mechanism for agitating syrup contained within a bottle or othercontainer supplied to a cup vending machine for dispensing liquidrefreshments, comprising a receptacle into which the syrup flows fromthe container, a housing. inthe receptacle and provided with anyagitator adapted to circulate syrup under pressure from the receptacleto the container, and a telescoping nozzle in the housing for receivingthe syrup under pressure and discharging it into theY con; tainer insuch-.manner as to cause thorough agitation Voi the contents of the'container', said nozzle being telescopically mounted in the housing insuch manner as to project into the neck or the container when theagitator is operating and drop therebelo-W when it is not operating topermit removal and replacement of the container.

vSANIUEL H. ELLISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 360,170 Van Riper et al. June1'0, 1884 555,061 WheelWr-ight Feb. 18, 1896 990,454 Taylor Apr. 25,1911 1,746,597 Lind Feb. 11, 1930 1,783,864 Vogt Dec. l2, 1930 1,789,064Borislavsky et al. Jan. 13, 1931 1,882,812 Gunn Oct. 18, 19'32 1,900,989riaisted et a1 Mar. 14, 193s- 2,055,214 Christianson Sept. 22, 19362,055,800 Mlln Oct. 8, 1936 2,352,188 Farrell .June 27, 'i944 2,403,470T1111 July 9, 1946

